UP: Data geeks. Madison announces a new open data policy, which will make most data compiled by the city available to the public for free. The city compiles all sorts of data, including those related to crime, buses and property transactions. The data could be used, among other things, to build smart phone apps.

DOWN: Wisconsin Democracy Campaign. The government watchdog group says that half of its funding has been lost after the Joyce Foundation decided to cut its $232,000 annual donation. "It was kind of a lightning bolt," says director Mike McCabe. "We didn't have any advance warning."